NBA star Collins becomes first US athlete in mainstream sport to announce he is gay

Jason Collins has become the first active player in the NBA to come out as gay.

The 34-year-old, who played most recently for the Washington Wizards in an NBA career spanning 12 seasons and six teams, came out in an article with Sports Illustrated magazine.

He wrote: 'I'm a 34-year-old NBA centre. I'm black. And I'm gay.

'I didn't set out to be the first
openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I
am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the
classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.'

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Coming out: Collins has played for Boston Celtics and most recently starred for Washington Wizards

Trailblazer: Collins (left) is the first athlete playing a major sport in America to reveal he is gay

Collins said he was pleased he could finally 'do the right thing' and 'stop hiding'.

He wrote: 'No one wants to live in
fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don't sleep
well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger
and sleep a little more soundly.

'It takes an enormous amount of energy
to guard such a big secret. I've endured years of misery and gone to
enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall
apart if anyone knew.

'And yet when I acknowledged my
sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of
humour, I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my
back